Self-oiling chain sprocket



Oct. 25, 1938. C, w SHARTLE, 1Rl 2,134,490

SELF-OILING CHAIN SPROKET Filed NOV. 9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct, 25, 1938.

C. W. SHARTLE, JR

SELF-OILING CHAIN SPROCKET Filed Nov. 9, 193e 2 sheets-sheer 2 O Ul `Av www CHA RL E 6% 6` HA RTLEQJR.

`Patent-ed Oct. 25, 1938 Y ?-UN-ITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE y 2,134,490 v Y e SELF-OILING CHAIN fsPnooKErr CharleseW. Shartle, Jr.,l Ilo'ustoinTex.` a v Y Application November 9, 19se,:.seria1 No. 109,830'v t 9 claims (orafi- 243) A' The invention relates to an improvemntin sprocket wheels and theirlassociated parts where the sprocket is used'i'n'combination with a chain chain to'avoid undue wear and noise.` I

` In 1 connection with certain mechanisms,

drive so that lubricant may be furnished to the `sprocket and chain constructions are used to' transmitpower, and this is particularly true in connection with the drilling equipment for wells where power is transmitted from an engine` 'through a draw works or hoist and then to the various mechanisms such as the rotary table. With equipment of this sort where mud-and slush' containing abrasive'` materials are used during the drilling operation, naturally the chains and sprockets aresubjected to 'excessive wear,and in view of the high speed of the sprockets and chains considerable difficulty has been encountered in maintaining proper lubrication for thechains and sprockets. Other situations embodying the same "general difficulties are obviously encountered in other lines of industry. v

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a mechanism whereby a lubricant can be Vreadily disposed so that it will flow gradually to the chain in order tomaintain lubrication thereof for a considerable period ofv time.

Another object `of the invention is to provide a vsprocket with oil pockets and discharge passages so that lubricant may flow to thechain passing about the sprocket. Another object of the invention is to adapt exiisting sprocket wheels by a simple and economical alteration so that they can be converted into lubricating sprocket wheels.

Another object of the invention is to provide Y ilanges for existing sprockets so as to convert them for use in providing lubricant for the chains.

Still another object of the invention is to apply walls to the flanges of a sprocketwheel in order to provide a lubricant reservoir.

Otherand further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side View of Va sprocket Wheel constructed to embody the lubricating features of the invention. a v

Figure 2 is a partial sectional View transversely of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows another form of sprocket wherein the lubricating `feature has been incorporated.

Figure 4 is a broken sectional view of Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows a broken sectional view of a sprocket which originally did not embody the lubrica'ting features but which has been alteredvto `include the lubricating passages and lubricant reservoir.

Figure 6 shows another form of sprocket wherein asolid web of the sprocket has been employed with an added flange to form a lubricant reserv voir.

Figure 7 shows a genera-1 View of the draw works y and rotary table to illustrate how the chain and sprockets are employed in awell drilling rig..

Y In'thedrilling of wells the Figure-'lshows the general construction wherein the oor of the derrickisillustrated at 2 and has the'rotary table 3 mounted thereon. This table is driven by the pinion orsprocket 4 by means of a chain 5 which extends from the driven sprocket 6 of the draw Vworks or hoisting mechanism 1.

- The shaft 8 which carries the sprocket 6 is driven from a suitable source of supply by a chain 9 andV additional sprockets on the shaft 8 drive the chain II which passes over the hoist or drum sprocket I2.. lVarious speeds may be imparted to fthe rotary table 3 by shifting the sprockets on the line shaft i8, butthe entire general arrangement shows that a number of chains and sprockets are employed in the driving mechanism.

, It ,will be understood that. during the drilling operation the drill pipe passes verticallyV through 1 to 200 revolutions per minute, so that it will be observed that it is very difcult to lubricate the sprockets and chains. Any one of the sprockets of Figure 7 may be i1- in either Figures 2, 4, Y5 or 6. In Figure 2 a sprocket Wheel I5 has been illustrated as being made up of a hub I6, a web I'I, a flange I8, and the teeth I9.

In order, however, to provide lubricant adjacent the toothed periphery of the sprocket, an additional housing 20 has been provided around the web Il. This housing is madeV upV of the walls 2| and 22, which respectively form reservoirs23 and 24 with the web I1. These reservoirs can be anlustrated by -the generaltype of sprocket shown nular so that they extend entirely around the hub IB and an opening to introduce lubricant is closed by the plug 25.

In order that the lubricant mayY ilow to the chain as it passes over the teeth I9, an opening 26 has been provided in the web I1 adjacent the area between any two of the teeth I9 on the periphery. A passage 21 then leads outwardly through the flange I 8 into the recess between two adjacent teeth. As seen in Figure 1, a number of the recesses 26 and passages 21 have been pro vided, it not being deemed necessary that such a passage be provided between successive teeth because usually the chain passes over different teeth on the sprocket on each trip.

It seems obvious from the foregoing that lu` bricant may be deposited in the reservoirs 23 and 24, and in view of the restricted end of the passages 21 the lubricant will flow gradually into the area between the teeth so as to lubricate the chain. Obviously the centrifugal force of the rotating sprocket will assist, in discharging the lubricant.

Figures 3 and 4 show a slightly modified form which embodies the same structure as that previously describedv in connection with Figures 1 and 2, except that the walls 2l and 22`are cut away at 39 to leave openings so that the reservoirs 23 and 24 are not completely closed. In this manner lubricantrnay be added to the sprocket while it is rotating and will beheld in the reservoirs 23 and 24 dueto centrifugal force. Figure 3 is modied with respect to Figure 1 in that it'shows a passage 21 as entering into each of the spaces between the adjacent teeth I 9.

Figure 5 shows a form of the invention wherein a sprocket 40. of ordinary and usual construction has been modied somewhat in order to adapt it so that the present invention may be incorporated therein. This sprocket originally embodied a spoke such as 4I, the flange 42 and the teeth 43. The spoke 4I has been drilled to provide a recess 44 and the passage 45 has been drilled inwardly from the periphery of the sprocket until it opens into the recess 4I.. Inside of the flange 42 the walls 45 and 46 have been positioned and are in the form of annular rings of sheet metal which are afxed to the inside of the flange by means of the welding material 41. These iianges may be ilared as indicated in Figure5, or they may be otherwise arranged so long as they provide a reservoir space 49 and 50 onea'ch side of the sprocket wheel.

Like the type of Figure 4, Figure 5 shows a sprocket which when converted permits the lubricant to be added while the sprocket is rotating by merely introducing the lubricant into the Vbetween the teeth 62.

reservoirs 49 and 50 over the edge 5I of the walls 45 and 46.Y

Figure 6 shows a form in which an existing sprocket has been converted where the sprocket originally embodied a solid web 60 in order to support the ange 6I on the teeth 62. In this form of the invention a single wall 63 has been added and is held in position by the welding material 64, so as to provide a single reservoir 65, it being understood that the web 60 of the sprocket `forms the vother wall of the reservoir in order that the lubricant may move upwardly The discharge passage 66 has been drilled through the iiange 6I so as to leador open into the reservoir 65.

While several forms of the invention have been shown and described, it is intended that the invention contemplates broadly the idea of providing a simple and economical construction whereby lubricant may be passed through the periphery of the sprocket toa chain passing over the sprocket and wherein the lubricant may be contained in a reservoir or added periodically as desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A toothed wheel comprising a h ub, a web onl said hub, a rim mounted on said web and having teeth on the periphery thereof and inwardly extending walls attached to the rim on opposite sides of said web to form a reservoir said web being provided with transverse openings adjacent said rim and said rim having passages extending from said openings to spaces between certa-in 'of the teeth.

2. A toothed wheel, comprising a rim having teeth on the periphery thereof, a hub, a web integrally uniting said hub and said rim', radially extending walls secured to said hub and rim but in spaced relation with said web to provide closed chambers, said web being provided with transverse openings to provide communication between chambers thus formed and said rim being provided with passages from the openings to the teeth.

3. A toothed wheel, comprising a rim having teeth on the periphery thereof, a hub, a web integrally uniting said hub and said rim, radially extending walls secured to said hub` and rim but in spaced relation with said web to provide closed chambers, said web being provided with transverse openings to provide communication between chambers thus formed and said rim being provided with passages from openings to spaces between certain of' the teeth.

CHARLES W. SHARTLE, JR. 

